Mixed Media Steampunk 'Key to my Heart' journal project

 This little Steampunk inspired heart journal definitely has the key to my heart. I just loves it!

So I absolutely love the idea of steampunk. What is steampunk?

'a genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.'

What better combination than Powertex and steampunk to create the inspiration for this pretty little heart journal! All made from fabulous bases and embellishments available soon from Powertex UK.

Use your heart shape as a template to cut out your paper which will make up the pages for your journal. Place the heart blank over your cut out paper, using the holes in the top as a guide pierce holes through the paper with a sharp pointed tool. Ooooo, don't they look fabulously pretty?

Use the heart blank as a guide to cut around the silk paper and stick down with the Easy coat glossy. 

Tip time: Use a water spray bottle to help smooth out any wrinkles, a few sprays should do it. If you end up with a few wrinkles, don't worry they add beautiful texture to the piece.

The Easy coat glossy is the perfect consistency allowing for very little wrinkle anyway and gives a lovely smooth, non-tacky, glossy seal, unlike any other I've seen. Making it a brilliant Easy adhesive and sealant for the job! 

Tip time: Once dry run an emery board around the outside of the heart to clean up any paper overhanging the edges. It works wonderfully well and gives a really clean edge finish. 

Use your finger and wipe some black Powertex around the edges of the heart to give a distressed look. Allow this to dry, repeat to build up the layers and blend in. Then dry brush a little rich gold colotricx, or a lot, you can be as light or as heavy handed as you please. If you like the plain finish, feel free to leave them just as they are. 

Tip time: Always play with your embellishments beforehand to get an idea and feel for your layout. This design has been created just for you but this is a handy hint for future projects.

Now cut the scrim around the heart shape and cut your lace to fit.

Top tip: Leave some over hang on your lace. Once covered in black Powertex, stick down and dry, then trim the ends. Why is that? Well, you get a neater edge and if there is a small amount of shrinkage the lace will still touch right to the edges of the heart. Leaving them nice and neat. Or if you like a ragged edge, no problems, leave them as they are.

Coat all your embellishments by brushing the black Powertex over each piece and lay in place. With the metal embellishments paint them over, lay down and leave to dry. If they are not fully coated, just paint over them once dry and repeat process until fully coated.

Patience here is the key! See what I did there?

Lastly my favourite part, time to add the colour. Start by dry brushing on red powercolor, then add some white powercolor for highlights and finally a touch of rich gold colortricx. 

Remember this is only a guide with the techniques. There is no right or wrong, if you wish to change some of the colours or placement of embellishments, then use this project as a template to be inspired. It's all about having a play and most of all having fun with Powertex the medium we all love! 💖